Indigenous Curator
In the spirit of our efforts to promote reconciliation, Lougheed House acknowledges the traditional territories and oral practices of the Blackfoot (Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai), the Tsuut’ina (Sarcee), the Stoney Nakoda First Nations, the Métis Nation of Alberta (Region 3) and the Métis Homeland.
It is an exciting time to join Lougheed House as we continue to grow as a cultural hub for Calgary and Alberta.
The Lougheed House Re-Imagined multi-year permanent gallery project is in development and as we evolve Lougheed House for the future, we are looking for individuals interested in being a part of this journey. Lougheed House, known initially as Beaulieu, was designed by Ottawa architect James R. Bowes, and built in 1891 for Senator James and Lady Isabella Hardisty Lougheed. Today, Lougheed House is a Provincial and National Historic Site. Now considered to have been a Métis household because of Lady Isabella’s Métis ancestry, it is one of the earliest surviving mansions of its kind on the Canadian prairies today.
Located in the Beltline district of Calgary amid several acres of heritage gardens and green space, the house is an accredited museum and significant Calgary landmark. For visitors of all ages, it features a regular exhibition program, and hosts events, tours, and learning opportunities that explore our community’s history from a diversity of perspectives. Lougheed House offers a flexible and team-oriented work environment. Join us and help grow our organization for the future!
About Lougheed House Re-Imagined
Lougheed House Re-Imagined (LHRI) is a new, permanent exhibit that explores Calgary’s lesser-known histories and seeks to cast Calgary’s history in a new light. As a historic site, originally built in 1891, Lougheed House is both a participant in, and a witness to, these histories.
Lougheed House is exploring the role that settler colonialism has played in Calgary’s early development, to unpack how it persists in how we understand our history and our city today. Calgary has always been mythologized as a place where you can ‘make it’ but what requires further consideration as contemporary Canadians respond to calls for equity and truth and reconciliation is the role that one’s social privilege has played in ensuring one’s early success in our community.
While the house certainly witnessed events and stories commonly associated with Calgary such as the discovery of oil and gas, and a strong ranching and agricultural history, it also witnessed stories that have yet to be told that further explore the diversity of experiences associated with Lougheed House and of those who have made Calgary their home. Embedded within these stories, however, are the ongoing effects of settler colonialism, and issues of power and privilege. The exhibit aims to explore colonialism and its effects, as well as the stories of persistence and resistance as an overarching interpretive framework.
Project Goals:
- Develop and implement an innovative model of co-creation with the community.
- Provide a welcoming space where Calgarians can explore the local history of the diverse communities that make up the city.
- Create space for dialogue about Calgary’s past, present, and future civic identity.
- Connect Lougheed House history to Calgary history by positioning Lougheed House as a witness to Calgary’s history.
- Offer a counternarrative to the predominant colonial narrative associated with the site.
- Create a space where people can actively engage with history through interactive displays and technology.
- Provide learning opportunities and curriculum connections for students K-12.
- Refresh the Lougheed House’s reputation in the community as a cultural hub and a place for everyone.
Position Duties & Responsabilities
All work is to be done in collaboration with the LHRI project team, which includes a project manager, LHRI curator, exhibit coordinator, and other internal Lougheed House staff as needed.
The Indigenous curator will be an active participant in the advisory group’s work to support the exhibition and program development. Growing relationships with the team and our broad community stakeholders is a part of this role.
- Co-curate a new, permanent exhibit at Lougheed House.
- Bring Indigenous knowledge, histories, cultures, languages, traditions, stories, perspectives, and ways of knowing to the project.
- Conduct research utilizing databases, archives, oral histories, and other diverse tools.
- Consult with local stakeholders, including diverse community members.
- Co-develop an interpretive plan for the exhibit including storylines, artifacts, interpretive goals, and learning objectives.
- Select historical documents, photographs, and contemporary artworks to be included in the exhibit.
- Contribute to writing interpretive and didactic text panels, labels, and other written content.
- Support the development of A/V and interactive content.
- Public speaking and availability for programs, promotional purposes, including media requests and facilitation of open-houses.
- Other curatorial and interpretive duties as necessary.
Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree is required (a master’s degree would be an asset) in Canadian studies, western Canadian history, Indigenous studies, art history, or similar discipline; or a combination of equivalent education and lived experience related to research, curation, culture, history, and/or writing.
- Knowledge of local Indigenous history and culture.
- A desire to explore and showcase Calgary’s untold stories.
- Excellent public speaking, research and writing skills
- Established connections and relationships to Indigenous communities and people in Calgary and Treaty 7 and Métis homeland Region 3 area.
- Some familiarity with local archival holdings and experience using both primary and secondary sources for research is considered an asset.
- Experience working in partnership development, building, and fostering relationships, and engaging with the public is considered an asset.
Competency Requirements
- Proven skill and ability in working with subject matter that is sensitive and complex and may have multiple interpretations.
- Exceptional organizational and planning skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing and to deal courteously, tactfully, and diplomatically with all stakeholders including other employees, volunteers, and the general public.
- Good team player and a self-starter.
The successful applicant will need to verify their Indigenous background. Those with connection to the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, specifically the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Piikani and Kainai); Îethka Nakoda Wîcastabi First Nations (Chiniki, Bearspaw and Wesley First Nations); the Tsuut’ina First Nation; historic Northwest Métis and Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3; and/or Indigenous urban Calgarians, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Start Date: February – March 2022
Hours: 60 hours/month
Compensation: $40/hour
Duration
This is a part-time contractor position for 12 months with the possibility of extension dependent on project timeline and funding. The work is hybrid, at times onsite and offsite. Intensity of work over this time period will vary. Days and hours worked are highly flexible with some specific dates that may be required.
Questions? Please contact Kirstin Evenden, Executive Director kevenden@lougheedhouse.com.
The posting will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. We will begin reviewing applications on February 16, 2022.
